Clinical manifestations of esophageal cancer

The terminal stage of esophageal cancer will present the common terminal symptoms of most malignant tumors, such as cachexia, dehydration, systemic failure and coma. Local symptoms include mediastinitis, lung abscess, pneumonia, fatal hemorrhage, dyspnea, etc. Early symptoms of esophageal cancer:

(1) Choking sensation when swallowing: This is the most common symptom, which can disappear or recur on its own and does not affect eating. It often occurs when the patient is emotionally unstable, so it is easy to be mistaken for a functional symptom.

(2) Pain behind the sternum and under the xiphoid process: more common. Pain behind the sternum or under the xiphoid process occurs when swallowing food. The pain may be burning, stabbing, or pulling, and is more obvious when swallowing rough, hot, or irritating food.

(3) Food retention and foreign body sensation: When swallowing food or drinking water, there is a feeling that the food moves slowly down and is retained, as well as a feeling of tightness behind the sternum or food sticking to the esophageal wall, which disappears after the meal.

(4) Dryness and tightness in the throat: This symptom is particularly noticeable when swallowing dry and rough foods. The occurrence of this symptom is often related to the patient's mood swings.